Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Bizmen at odds over Baguio waste policy

"People are not afraid unlike in Olongapo or in Marikina where citizens trust and respect officials," Cid said even as she admitted that it would take a lot of education, discipline and efficient collection on the part of the government to sustain the policy implementation.

SESSION Road Business Association (SRBA) president Nelia Cid is supportive of the “no segregation, no collection’” policy of the Baguio City Government.

This despite the heaps of uncollected garbage that have since taken shape at the heart of the city business center, the barangays and the market after the City Environment and Parks Management Office (Cepmo) decided to implement the scheme last week.

Cid said the problem lies not in the government but in people who are not responsible and who do not respect orders from officials of the government.

"People are not afraid unlike in Olongapo or in Marikina where citizens trust and respect officials," Cid said even as she admitted that it would take a lot of education, discipline and efficient collection on the part of the government to sustain the policy implementation.

She appealed for the public to cooperate. "There should be mutual respect," she said.

Cid, who owns the Cid Educational Supply, is into recycling and segregation more than a decade now.

But other Session Road businessmen do not share Cid’s view.

Two restaurateurs said the City Government's move was too sudden and that compliance turned out to be bad on the first week that the policy was implemented.

They said there should have been enough information and education campaign first. The mountains of garbage left at the sidewalks indicated that only a few are aware of the scheme, they added.

The Cepmo have identified restaurants, including fast-food chains, as the biggest waste generators.

A cellular phone accessories dealer, meanwhile, felt less affected by the policy but said the sight and smell of garbage that is fast piling up is irritating.

He also expressed apprehension that health problems might arise if the Cepmo does not reconsider its stance, especially with the continuing downpour.

Baguio Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. earlier appealed to the public to cooperate. "We appeal for our people to help our city realize the segregation concept by following the segregation rules. Please understand that this is for the benefit of us all," he said. By Rimaliza Opiña - SunStar